PARIS, Oct 16: The Government has declared a health emergency night curfew in France from Saturday to fight the threat of a second wave of coronavirus in the country. French President Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter to make the announcement: “A curfew will be established from 9 PM to 6 AM in health emergency zones.”

Shops and public places will be shut in nine Covid-19 hotspots including Paris, after 9 pm local time starting this weekend, French Prime Minister Jean Castex told a press conference on Thursday, adding that there were exemptions for establishments providing emergency services such as healthcare or restaurants doing deliveries.

The eight other regions to go under curfew are Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Saint Etienne, Montpellier, Rouen, Lille and Grenobl

"All private parties, such as weddings or student parties, which are held in party halls, multipurpose rooms or any other institution receiving the public will be prohibited," said Castex.

Macron had announced that the curfew starting Saturday will be in force for at least four weeks. Nighttime festivities have also been banned across France. The curfews aim to reduce gatherings in public places and private venues. Gatherings will have a limit of maximum of six people.

Twelve thousand police officers would be deployed to enforce the curfew. Offenders would be fined 135 euros the first time they broke the curfew. The fine would increase to 3,750 euros after the third infraction with offenders facing a maximum of six months imprisonment.

France's Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire promised 1 billion euros of additional support to help French companies cushion the impact of the nightly curfew.

The French Government in a statement said, “The COVID-19 epidemic constitutes a public health disaster which, by its character and its severity, puts at risk the health of the population. It justifies the declaration of the state of emergency so that measures can be adopted ... which are strictly proportionate to the public health risks.”

France was under health emergency earlier when the first wave of covid engulfed Europe. That ended three months ago.

France reports 798,000 confirmed cases and nearly 33,000 deaths.